Electrical System upgrade GROUPBUY (BIG 3 PLUS)! **CLOSED**

I was thinking I wouldn't need that if I mounted a catch hook of sorts on top, to "capture" large "bolts" of electrical power.. I.E. perhaps lightning, not saying that's what I'd use, but just saying.. Maybe Power Lines idk.
If you'd have had that vision 25yrs ago, just think, things would be real fruity and fermented for you these days, could've called it "POWER JUICE".

 

I'm sorry to hear the news about your friends' family members.

Now that I had the lengths for the various parts of the kit, I checked a few welding websites to compare, unfortunately none of the websites show the strand count except for one or two, but their 2 gauge wires were less than 2000 strands. I did a rough bill of materials cost estimate for your stage 1 kit...it's fair what you charge.

I do have one request, seems there are 30 folks that signed on to the group buy now...above the 21 mark to get the 10% and free shipping. If we went above 30, say 31 and over signed up would you offer the stage 2 kit (without the alternator) for the price of the stage 1 with the 10% and free shipping? The reason for this is that adding the 2 gauge wire will allow all the group buy folks the ability to upgrade their alternator in the future without having to buy updated wires again.

P.s. If get into the group buy...I would get the 8 gauge wire for the RTMR and amps.

 

for those that like to follow me around, I am kicking off two more group buy today and tomorrow

 

theyve been started..

look around

 

can we get a total of 40 signees?

 

I'm might have to quit TW because of you.

 

I want to do this. But you've taken all my spare $$$ for taco mods (RTMR) haha

 

Look in the group buy section. It will probably be #1 or #2. It's a fuse box that you mount under your hood to wire in all of your accessories.

Very awesome

 

The Stage 2 Kit is a Stage 1 Kit with an alternator. So offering a Stage 2 Kit WITHOUT the alternator is just saying a Stage 1 Kit...lol

 

I've read your post before that with Stage 2, 200A and 250A alternator that you need a 2 gauge wire instead of 4 gauge wire. So is this not true? If it is true, why not just offer the stage 1 kits with the beefier wire. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Here's a quote from your thread about second gen stage 2.
"
Stage 2 Kits now ready to build!
I just got a reply back from the supplier. Looks like the 200A units will be $265 plus shipping, and the 250A units will be $320 plus shipping. If bought as a Stage 2 Kit, that means the total would be $385 plus $15 shipping for the 200A and $445 plus $15 shipping for the 250A unit.

*The Stage 2 kit with 250A alternator will come with 2 gauge alternator cabling."

BTW, did you ever count the number of strands...roughly...is it really 2000 strands for 2 gauge wire? I've seen 2/0 gauge wire that are 2,000 strands of copper, but not 2 gauge wire. The other brands of 2 gauge wire I see between 600 to 1200 strands and generally state they are 30 AWG strands for the 600 strand. How do they get 2,000 strands to fit into 2 gauge wire?

 

OK, now I get you. If a customer wants to get a 250A alternator, then the alternator output cable is required to be the 2 Gauge instead of the 4 Gauge.

As for the strands, I am simply going by what my supplier stated, and that is the 2 gauge is approximately 2000 strands. I did not take a piece of 2 gauge and count the wires myself.

 

I found from welding supply website, it appears you have the ultraflex strand wire..shows 2695 strands at least the product they sell.

I found they have 2 gauge for $2 per foot and 4 gauge for $1 per foot. Is there a reason not to go with 2 gauge all around instead of a mix of 4 gauge and 2 gauge wire? As I said before, I think what you offer is a fair price...taking into consideration of labor and profit. My main concern is doing the job only once...do it right the first time. A lot of the audio guys use 0 gauge and 2/0 gauge for high power amps...just that 4 gauge @ 100A doesn't wow me...even if the chart shows it for 50 feet versus the 5 to 6 feet we use with our trucks.

Off topic, I personally don't care for the builtin volt meter if it's always draining the battery. If I want a voltage reading...just bust out the DMM.

 

@BamaToy1997 May I request that the one I buy be terminated in ring terminals on both sides so I may run a battery hookup like the negative one in @ramonortiz55 pics?

 

I use 2 gauge for all the primary cables. The only one that I offer at 4 gauge is the alternator cable, since there is no need at all for 2 gauge on an alternator that puts out 200A or less.

This can be done. Once we get the GB end-date passed I can get into the specific details for each order then. I won't be able to remember each request between now and then.

 

The original group buy shows this:
So here is what the Stage 1 Kit comes with:

High quality battery terminals with built-in voltage gauge for "at-a-glance" reading of your battery status.

• Heavy-duty 2 gauge primary cables for starter and vehicle grounds using welding cable with over 2000 strands of copper.
• Heavy-duty 4 gauge alternator cable, and vehicle power cable made of the same welding cable style, with over 1000 strands of copper.
• Heavy-duty 4 gauge power point draw with 130A fuse
• Performance Stereo 8 gauge wire for body ground
• Instructions on installation

So I originally asked now that there are more than 30 folks that sign up...how about making the rest of the cables 2 gauge wire so they will not have to upgrade in the future. If they upgrade to 200 or 250A alternator...just swap alternator and be done. The group buy was in increments of 10. Given that it's over 30 now, buying the 2 gauge in bulk will be much less for you and the 4 gauge wire less attractive.

Also for the body ground, why isn't 2 gauge as well? I read in one of your post that the winch or another heavy current device melted the body ground wire because it was too small. If I remember correctly the winch had to be connected directly to the battery.

 

If more people speak up and are interested in going 2 gauge on the alternator cable I can do that. As for the body ground not being 2 gauge, that is because 8 gauge is more than sufficient, as it is larger than the factory body ground cable that is only 10. The issue with the winch that melted a body ground cable, it was incorrectly connected to the frame of the truck, which should NEVER be done because the frame has only a small ground cable from the frame to the body, then to the battery. The owner of the truck realized this after we found his problem, and he rewired the winch to the battery. A winch should not be wired in any other way except directly to the battery, as most winches draw in excess of 400A at full load.

To be fair here I will say if you don't like the way my kits are built, I am not forcing you to buy them. I have had them in service for 2 years now on several trucks and have not had a single major issue with them. They are well designed and well built.

 

come and get it guys!

 

Interesting, will be looking to maybe get my hands on a stage 1 for a 2010 4.0L and a stage 1 for a 95.5 2.7L

 

You are absolutely correct and I hope I don't mean any offense. But I read in post that you rather discuss this publicly so all can read and learn. The whole point of this upgrade is to provide more stable current to the system with larger capacity wires. The reason for my queries are based on having to upgrade something...do it right once. If 4 gauge to the alternator for example can't handle 250A alternator...why not just get the beefier cables to start with and not worry about more cables in the future. The same is for the other wires...if the upgrade is to provide margin and capacity of current, why not do it the rest of the system. The cost between the 2 gauge and 8 gauge in that short of a distance is nominal vs the time and effort to do it.

From reading your posts and threads, you seem like a stand up person and asset to TW. I like that you are up front, transparent, and been very helpful. I already got an idea of how much things cost and you offer a very good package for reasonable price.... just wanted something where I don't have to worry about it...even if it's just for peace of mind given it's only a few dollars for for the upgrade. If you offered for $10 more for 2 gauge all around per se...I think that would be fair. But you are right...I could just buy the cables and do it myself...I have access to the equipment. I just figured since you already offer it as a package...be nice to get something to what I wanted. Thanks!